Why Mo’Nique Is Asking Her Fans to Boycott Netflix

'Alias Grace' Actor Albert Schultz Accused of Sexual Misconduct by Four Actresses

© Donna Ward/Getty Images Comedian Mo'Nique performs on her ''Spread The Love'' Tour at Madison Square Garden on April 24, 2010 in New York.

Earlier today, Mo’Nique posted a plea on Instagram to her fans, asking them to boycott Netflix because of gender and racial bias. In it, Mo’Nique tries to make the case for why she should get Amy Schumer, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle money for her stand-up special, but, unintentionally, she also makes the case for why it’s so hard to negotiate with Netflix in the first place. 

In the Instagram video, Mo’Nique says Netflix offered her $500,000 for her next special, a number she found to be low, considering that Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock were each reportedly paid $20 million for theirs. She also points to Amy Schumer renegotiating her $11 million deal to get closer to Chappelle and Rock’s pay. According to Mo’Nique, Netflix said the $500,000 is based on how many people they expected to watch the special. When the comedian brought up her résumé — Oscar winner, influential stand-up, etc. — Netflix said they don’t pay performers for their résumés. However, when asked why they gave so much to Schumer, Netflix allegedly pointed to Schumer selling out Madison Square Garden and having a hit movie in Trainwreck. As Mo’Nique asks, isn’t that just Schumer’s résumé? Essentially, Mo’Nique argues, she’s a legend, and Netflix pays legends millions.

Though, as Mo’Nique noted, Netflix thinks of her as a legend, it seems extremely unlikely that she’ll get paid as much as Rock or Chappelle or even Schumer, largely because of all their relative positions going into the negotiation. When reached by Vulture, a spokesperson at Netflix responded, “Netflix does not comment on contract negotiations.” Which shouldn’t come as a surprise, as Netflix is especially secretive, even by the famously opaque standards of Hollywood. More than money, it’s about data. When Showtime released Mo’Nique’s 2007 special, I Coulda Been Your Cellmate!, Mo’Nique and her team would know how many people watched it. When it moved to Netflix recently, they no longer had that information, as Netflix doesn’t share viewership data with talent. Netflix enters negotiations knowing exactly how many people watched the special, while Mo’nique does not. As elsewhere in the Peak TV landscape, the streaming service has all the leverage.

Further complicating matters is that, in Schumer’s and Rock’s cases, Netflix was in the position of luring them away from HBO, while Mo’Nique’s last special, Something Different, was self-released on Amazon. And that gets to something I’ve been writing about for a while: With Netflix buying up such a large percentage of stand-up specials — often by paying more than everyone else — there aren’t tons of other outlets for comedians to turn to if they think they’re being lowballed by the streaming service. Showtime still does a handful, but HBO and Comedy Central only do a few. That’s not great for talent like Mo’Nique. As one agent told Vulture, “She will be lucky if she can find anywhere else that will even pay her half of what Netflix was offering.”

Related slideshow: Binge-worthy Netflix series(via Photo Services) 

1/44 SLIDES © Netflix

Stranger Things (2016- )

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(Pictured L-R) Schnapp, FInn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb Mclaughlin.

Disclaimer: Some shows may not be streaming in all countries.

2/44 SLIDES © Patrick Harbron/Netflix

Mindhunter (2017)

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The Punisher (2017)

Genre: Superhero/crime fiction

The riveting thriller follows the trigger-friendly vigilante, as he discovers a devious conspiracy which involved the murder of his family.

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The Crown (2016- )

Genre: Historical drama

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13 Reasons Why (2017- )

Genre: Drama/mystery

Based on the eponymous 2007 novel by Jay Asher, the dark mystery revolves around high school student Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette, pictured), who receives a box of tapes previously recorded by his friend, Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford), before she committed suicide. The tapes reveal the reasons and people behind her death. The second season is set to premiere in 2018.

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A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017- )

Genre: Comedy/drama

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Santa Clarita Diet (2017- )

Genre: Comedy/horror

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BoJack Horseman (2014- )

Genre: Animation/comedy

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The OA (2016- )

Genre: Drama/fantasy/mystery

Filled with supernatural and sci-fi elements, the show stars Brit Marling (pictured, R) as Prairie Johnson, a young woman who returns home after missing for seven years. Johnson, who was previously blind, now calls herself “The OA” and is able to see—leading to speculations and panic among other residents of the town. It was renewed for a second season, dubbed “Part II.”

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House of Cards (2013- )

Genre: Political drama

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Narcos (2015- )

Genre: Crime drama

While the first two seasons chronicled the rise and fall of notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura), the third season revolves around DEA agent Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal, pictured) as he takes down the infamous Cali Cartel. The nail-biting thriller has been renewed for its fourth season.

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Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015- )

Genre: Comedy

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13/44 SLIDES © Patrick Harbron/Netflix

Daredevil (2015- )

Genre: Superhero/crime fiction

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14/44 SLIDES © Cara Howe/Netflix

Orange Is the New Black (2013- )

Genre: Comedy-drama

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15/44 SLIDES © Murray Close/Netflix

Sense8 (2015- )

Genre: Science fiction

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Jessica Jones (2015- )

Genre: Superhero/crime fiction

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17/44 SLIDES © Netflix

Master of None (2015- )

Genre: Comedy-drama

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18/44 SLIDES © Netflix

Luke Cage (2016- )

Genre: Superhero/crime fiction

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19/44 SLIDES © Netflix/Everett/REX Shutterstock

Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015- )

Genre: Comedy

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(Pictured) Christopher Meloni in a still from the show.

20/44 SLIDES © Netflix/Everett/REX Shutterstock

Grace and Frankie (2015- )

Genre: Comedy-drama

The show follows the story of Grace Hanson (L) and Frankie Bergstein (Lily Tomlin), who strike an unlikely friendship after their husbands reveal they have been romantically involved for over 20 years. A fourth season of the show is set to premiere in 2018.

21/44 SLIDES © Netflix

Bloodline (2015- )

Genre: Thriller

The popular dark thriller series aired its third and final season in May 2017. The show follows the story of John Rayburn (Kyle Chandler, pictured) and his family as his notorious brother, Danny (Ben Mendelsohn), returns from a hiatus to reveal the dark secrets of the Rayburns. Mendelsohn won a Primetime Emmy for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2017.

22/44 SLIDES © Netflix

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23/44 SLIDES © Netflix

Flaked (2016- )

Genre: Comedy

Created by actor Will Arnett (pictured) and screenwriter Mark Chappell, “Flaked” follows the story of a self-help guru, Chip, whose struggles to keep up his know-all personality have hysterical outcomes.

24/44 SLIDES © Sarah Shatz/Netflix

The Defenders (2017)

Genre: Superhero/crime fiction

Jessica Jones, Iron Fist (Finn Jones, 2nd from L), Daredevil and Luke Cage reluctantly team up in this epic crossover series, as they take on a villainous outfit, the Hand, to protect New York City.

25/44 SLIDES © Netflix

The Get Down (2016- )

Genre: Drama/musical

Set in the 1970s Bronx neighborhood of New York, the show chronicles the rise of disco and hip-hop from the perspective of a group of teenagers. The second and final part was released in April 2017.

(Pictured) Justice Smith in a still from the show.

26/44 SLIDES © Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock

Mad Men (2007-15)

Genre: Drama

Created by Matthew Weiner, the series is set in the cutthroat world of New York advertising in the 1960s as talented executives, led by Don Draper (Jon Hamm) take the industry by storm. It also features Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones, Christina Hendricks and others.

27/44 SLIDES © Jackson Davis/Netflix

Ozark (2017- )

It is about a financial planner Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman, pictured) who secretly moves with his family from Chicago to the Ozarks, in Missouri, following a money laundering scheme that goes wrong. The show has been renewed for another season.

28/44 SLIDES © Frank Ockenfels/Warner Bros TV/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Gilmore Girls (2000-07)

Genre: Comedy/Drama

It centers on single mother Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham, R) and her relationship with her teen daughter, Rory (Alexis Bledel, L), whom she had conceived when she was 16. 

29/44 SLIDES © Michele K. Short/AMC/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Better Call Saul (2015- )

Genre: Crime/Drama

A spin-off of “Breaking Bad”—which features the parent show’s doubtful lawyer Saul Goodman played by Bob Odenkirk (pictured). The story follows the life of the criminal lawyer called James Morgan “Jimmy” McGill (Odenkirk), that takes place six years before “Breaking Bad” began.

30/44 SLIDES © Robert Viglasky/Netflix

Peaky Blinders (2013- )

Genre: Crime/Drama

It is about the Peaky Blinders criminal gang, led by Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy, pictured) in 1919 Birmingham, U.K. The other main character in the series is Inspector Chester Campbell (Sam Neill), who is hired as a commissioned detective for the suppression of the gang.

31/44 SLIDES © Doug Hyun/AMC

Breaking Bad (2008-13)

Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller

Walter White (Bryan Cranston, pictured) is a high school chemistry teacher who gets diagnosed with an inoperable cancer. To ensure a secure future for his family, he takes on a new career path as a meth producer.

32/44 SLIDES © Ali Goldstein/NBC-TV/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

30 Rock (2006-13)

Genre: Comedy

The show was loosely based on Tina Fey’s experience on the set of “Saturday Night Live.” It stars Fey as Liz Lemon—headwriter of fictitious show “TGS with Tracy Jordan”—managing her relationship with the star Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) and the network executive (Alec Baldwin) of the show.

33/44 SLIDES © FX

American Crime Story (2016- )

Genre: Biography/Crime/Drama

An anthology series in which each season focuses on a real-life story. The first season presented the murder trial of O. J. Simpson, the upcoming second season is about the assassination of designer Gianni Versace by serial killer Andrew Cunanan.

34/44 SLIDES © FX

Archer (2009- )

Genre: Animation, Action, Comedy

The animated series revolves around the life and exploits of an international spy Sterling Archer.

35/44 SLIDES © Netflix

Chef's Table (2015-17)

Genre: Documentary

In this documentary web series, each episode focuses on the life and kitchen of a renowned chef. 

(Pictured) A still from the show.

36/44 SLIDES © NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

Cheers (1982–93)

Created by James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles, the American sitcom had a successful run of 11 seasons. It’s set in a Boston bar called Cheers where a group of regulars meet and share their life experiences.

(Pictured) Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman in a still from the show.

37/44 SLIDES © Bryn Colton/Daily Mail/REX/Shutterstock

Fawlty Towers (1975–79)

Genre: Comedy

The sitcom is set in the fictional hotel called Fawlty Towers. It focuses on the arrogant and rude owner of the hotel, Basil Fawlty (John Cleese) and his bossy wife Sybil (Prunella Scales). In order to raise their hotel’s profile, the couple ends up getting involved in silly situations.

(Pictured) Scales, Connie Booth, Cleese and Andrew Sachs in a still from the show.

38/44 SLIDES © NBC-TV/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Friday Night Lights (2006-11)

Genre: Drama/Sports

The trials and tribulations of a high-school football team in a Texas small town are captured extremely well in this sports drama.

(Pictured) Kyle Chandler in a still from the show.

39/44 SLIDES © Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

Genre: Comedy/Drama

The short-lived series is about a group of high school students. Linda Cardellini starred in the series as Lindsay Weir—a shy “mathlete” who goes on to become one of the school’s slacker “freaks” after she befriends a group of misfits.

(Pictured) Cardellini and Jason Segel in a still from the show.

40/44 SLIDES © Netflix

Luther (2010- )

Genre: Crime/Drama/Mystery

Created by Neil Cross, the series stars Idris Elba (pictured) in the title character of DCI John Luther — a dedicated police detective who is obsessive about his work. Elba’s incredible performance on the show has earned him several accolades, including Critics Choice Television Award, Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award.

41/44 SLIDES © Frank Ockenfels/Dutch Oven/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Suits (2011- )

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Created and written by Aaron Korsh, the show revolves around Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams, L), a college-dropout, who finds a job as a law associate with one of New York City’s best lawyer—Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht, R).

42/44 SLIDES © Erica Parise/Netflix/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Glow (2017- )

Genre: Comedy/Drama/Sport

The show focuses on the personal and professional lives of a group of women who perform for a wrestling association—the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (or GLOW).

(Pictured) Alison Brie in a still from the show.

43/44 SLIDES © Netflix/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Black Mirror (2011- )

Genre: Drama/Sci-Fi/Thriller

Created by Charlie Brooker, the sci-fi anthology series focuses on the dark side of modern society and new technologies. 

(Pictured) Bryce Dallas Howard in a still from the show.

44/44 SLIDES © Hartswood Films/REX/Shutterstock

Sherlock (2010- )

Genre: Crime/Drama/Mystery

The Emmy award-winning series is based on the “Sherlock Holmes” detective stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. English actor Benedict Cumberbatch (L) plays the titular role and Martin Freeman (R) appears as Dr. John Watson.

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